PITCHERS ARM HATS, CONFERENCE CALLS BEGIN: GAME ON!

PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 4: Joe Musgrove #44 of the San Diego Padres walks out of the bullpen before a World Baseball Classic scrimmage against Great Britain at Peoria Stadium on March 4, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country.

Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. The San Diego Padres entered Spring Training with questions about their starting pitching rotation. There were rumors in the offseason about Mason Miller being converted back to a starter – he will not be .

There was also talk about David Morgan and/or Brian Hoeing being stretched out to become starters because the Padres knew they would not have much of their 2025 rotation returning. Morgan remains in the bullpen and Hoeing will be lost for the season after needing elbow surgery. Dylan Cease reached free agency and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Michael King also reached free agency, but after time on the market he re-signed and returned to San Diego. Nick Pivetta was still on the team, but rumors about a possible trade involving Pivetta percolated in many of the early offseason conversations – he remains on the roster . It was announced that Yu Darvish would miss the entire 2026 season after offseason surgery on his elbow and Joe Musgrove was returning from his own surgery and what he could provide over 162-game season was unknown.